Drug delivery device

ABSTRACT

A syringe-like device having a drug dispensing tip connected to a motorized handpiece. The tip may be packaged pre-loaded with an amount of a liquid or phase transition drug or may be shipped empty and loaded with a liquid or phase transition drug by the user. The motorized handpiece contains suitable sensors and controllers for precisely actuating the tip for the controlled delivery of the liquid or phase transition drug in the tip. The handpiece by contain an internal power source, such as a battery, or may be connected to an external power source and/or control unit.

The present invention generally pertains to the delivery ofophthalmically acceptable pharmaceutically active agents to the back ofthe eye and more particularly to an apparatus for delivery of preciseamounts of a liquid or phase transition drug under controlled backpressure and flow conditions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Age related macular degeneration (ARMD) is the leading cause ofblindness in the elderly. It attacks the center of vision and blurs it,making reading, driving, and other detailed tasks difficult orimpossible. Current estimates reveal that approximately forty percent ofthe population over age 75, and approximately twenty percent of thepopulation over age 60, suffer from some degree of macular degeneration.In “wet” ARMD, the type that most often causes blindness, newly formedchoroidal blood vessels (CNV) leak fluid and cause progressive damage tothe retina. Two main methods of treatment are currently being performed,(a) photocoagulation and (b) the use of angiogenesis inhibitors.

Photocoagulation can be harmful to the retina and is impractical whenthe CNV is in proximity of the fovea. Furthermore, photocoagulationoften results in recurrent CNV over time.

Angiogenesis inhibitors may be administered orally, by intraocularinjections, by extraocular sub-Tennon injections, or by local implants.In the sub-Tenon injection method, a physician disposes the tip of acurved needle externally around the eye near the macula, and releases aprecise amount of the drug. However, a concern with sub-Tenon deliveryis that the drug must be administered slowly and under relatively lowpressure so as to be retained in the tissue rather than leaking backout, around the needle.

Therefore, a need exists in the field of ophthalmology for an improvedapparatus for controlled delivery of a drug to the human eye.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention improves upon the prior art by providing asyringe-like device having a drug dispensing tip connected to amotorized handpiece. The tip may be packaged pre-loaded with an amountof a liquid or phase transition drug or may be shipped empty and loadedwith a liquid or phase transition drug by the user. The motorizedhandpiece contains suitable sensors and controllers for preciselyactuating the tip for the controlled delivery of the liquid or phasetransition drug in the tip. The handpiece may contain an internal powersource, such as a battery, or may be connected to an external powersource and/or control unit.

Accordingly, one objective of the present invention is to provide asyringe-like device having a drug dispensing tip.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a device forthe delivery of a drug to the human eye and having a drug dispensing tipactuated by a motorized handpiece.

Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a drugdelivery device wherein the flow rate of the drug being delivered can becontrolled.

Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a drugdelivery device wherein the amount of the drug being delivered can becontrolled.

These and other advantages and objectives of the present invention willbecome apparent from the detailed description and claims that follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an enlarged, schematical view of a first embodiment of thedrug deliver device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, schematical view of a second embodiment of thedrug deliver device of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As best seen in FIG. 1, drug delivery device 10 of the present inventiongenerally comprises tip 12 and handpiece 14. Tip 12 generally containsdelivery cannula or needle 16 and body 18. Needle 16 may be any suitablysized needle of conventional construction. Body 18 generally is of aconstruction similar to a standard hypodermic syringe, e.g., cylindricaland tubular, made from glass, metal or a suitable plastic. Body 18 issized and shaped to hold a suitable amount of a liquid or phasetransition drug. Handpiece 14 generally is sized and shape similar tobody 18, e.g., cylindrical, and has distal end 20 adapted to allow tip12 to be mechanically connected to handpiece 14. Handpiece 14 containsdrive mechanism 22, with associated driver electronics 24, to pushplunger 21 in body 18 to force the liquid or phase transition drugcontained in body 18 out needle 16. Suitable drive mechanisms include,for example, piezoelectric linear motors, such motors being well-knownin the art (as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,940,209 (Henderson)), andavailable from sources such as New Scale Technologies, Inc., Victor,N.Y. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, power for driver 22 andcontrol electronics 24 is provided from power source 26, such as abattery, located internal to handpiece 14. Such a construction allowsfor very precise and controlled movement of plunger 21. In addition,electronics 24 can provide a feedback mechanism that senses the backpressure being exerted against the expression of the drug out of needle16 and make appropriate adjustments to the speed and direction of motor22.

As best seen in FIG. 2, drug delivery device 110 of the presentinvention may also generally comprise tip 112 and handpiece 114. Tip 112generally contains delivery cannula or needle 116 and body 118. Needle116 may be any suitably sized needle of conventional construction. Body118 is generally is of construction similar to a standard hypodermicsyringe, e.g., cylindrical and tubular, made from glass, metal or asuitable plastic. Body 118 is sized and shaped to hold a suitable amountof a liquid or phase transition drug. Handpiece 114 generally is sizedand shaped similar to body 118, e.g., cylindrical, and has distal end120 adapted so allow tip 112 to be mechanically connected to handpiece114. Handpiece 114 contains drive mechanism 122, with associated driverelectronics 124, to push plunger 121 in body 118 to force the liquid orphase transition drug contained in body 118 out needle 116. In theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, control electronics 124 are locatedexternal to handpiece 114 and power and control signals are provided todrive mechanism 122 through cable 123. Power for driver 122 andelectronics 124 is provided from external source 126 through electricalcable 128. Such a construction allows for a smaller handpiece 114.

This description is given for purposes of illustration and explanation.It will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that changesand modifications may be made to the invention described above withoutdeparting from its scope or spirit.

1. A drug delivery device, comprising: a) a handpiece; b) a tip having a body, the body being removably attached to the handpiece; c) a cannula generally located on the body opposite the handpiece; d) a plunger located in the tip body; and e) a drive mechanism located in the handpiece, the drive mechanism providing movement of the plunger when the tip is connected to the handpiece.
 2. The drug delivery device of claim 1 wherein the drive mechanism comprises a piezoelectric linear motor.
 3. The drug delivery device of claim 1 wherein the handpiece further comprises an internal power source for the drive mechanism.
 4. The drug delivery device of claim 1 wherein the handpiece further comprises internal control electronics for the drive mechanism.
 5. The drug delivery device of claim 1 further comprising external control electronics for the drive mechanism.
 6. The drug delivery device of claim 1 wherein the handpiece further comprises an external power source for the drive mechanism. 